Bed side guard rail



Nov. 30, 1965 T. NELSON BED SIDE GUARD RAIL 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 2, 1963 wm E n N N Mm h OM h WIILIHNvmnH uu d. Ummm.. v4/muuu @E E n mm w um. 9J@ 1mm NN l A om L6 E3 .T- m-rlw.. .Hl wm nu m. om E; l N .0E N. mw

TED NELSON, INVFNTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 30, 1965 '-r. NELSON 3,220,024

BED SIDE GUARD RAIL Filed Aug. 2, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3

TED NELSON, INVENTOR BY, `rm.

ATTORNEY Nov. 30, 1965 T. NELSON BED SIDE GUARD RAIL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 2, 1963 INVENTOR. TED NEL 5 ON A T TO/P/VEV United States Patent C) 3,220,024 BED SIDE GUARD RAIL Ted Nelson, 8638 Patterson Pass Road, Livermore, Calif. Filed Aug. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 299,585 6 Claims. (Cl. 5-331) This invention relates generally to side guards for beds where such protection is needed for children or elderly people, and more specifically to a bed side guard rail construction which is strong, versatile and simple to operate.

Bed side guards are useful for many purposes and are necessary in hospitals, rest homes or the like, where it is required to prevent accidents and injuries resulting from a patient falling out of bed, and where it is necessary to provide a barrier to contain a violent patient, as for example, a paraplegic type patient who is subject to involuntary muscular spasms of a violent nature and uncontrolled kicking. However, such bed side guard rails have heretofore been bulky and diflicult to operate and were designed without regard to the psychological effect upon a patient who is conned to his bed during his waking hours. Some side guard rails have been provided in the form of an accessory that can be attached to the bed frame or between the foot and head posts, when needed, which necessitated the complete removal of the side guard when its use was not required. Not only are such guard rails diicult to position in proper holding, but they require a place of storage when not in use. The consequence of this is they are not readily available when needed.

Other types of side guards in present use are raised or lowered when attached to the bed, but due to their size and construction extended beyond the width of the bed which necessitates their removal from t-he bed when the bed is to be moved through a doorway of standard width. In addition, the bulky and awkward side guards always .seem to interfere with the convenient administering to Va patient by a doctor or a nurse. Further, the manner of attachment and positioning made the making of the bed or the changing of linen a rather difcult and tedious operation. The magnitude of even this operation can be appreciated by multiplying the number of beds and the number of changes per day for each bed, by the extra effort required in the use of the present guard rails.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bed side guard rail construction which is strong, trustworthy, versatile and extremely simple to operate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bed side guard rail which is a permanent part of the bed and is easily moved between a raised 4and a lowered position without inconvenience or interference in any position.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bed side lguard which does not extend beyond the limits of the width of the bed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a bed side guard which is permanently attached to t-he bed and may be lowered by the press of a latch which can be operated by ones knees if the hands are full, to a position below the level of the mattress to facilitate making the bed and changing the bed linen and be completely out of the way when not in use and yet is instantly available when needed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bed side guard rail which is automatically locked in position when moved to the raised position so that it will not inadvertently become disengaged or subject to collapse by the failure to lock the same in the operative position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bed side guard having extensible arm portions providing a range of lengths to accommodate various purposes and conditions.

And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bed side guard rail that can be shortened so as to avoid an unpleasant psychological eifect upon the conned patient.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a side guard for a bed comprised of articulated sections which are movable relative to each other and to the bed frame, wherein the side guard does not interfere with any movement of the sections and is adapted for use when the bed sections are in any of the adjusted positions.

Another important advantage is that the guard rail of the present invention is mounted on the movable mattress support, and not on the bed frame, so that it moves with the mattress support to any position which is assumed and is therefore always in the useful position.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly and disassembly, also such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the -device and invention described herein.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the same is illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change and comprehends other details of construction without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a side view showing the side guard rail in the raised position with the telescopically held tube section fully extended toward the head and locked in position;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the bed side guard rail shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view showing the bed side guard rail in the lowered position with the telescopically held tube section returned to the -retracted position;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a bed showing the longitudinal side rails and a separate mattress support having a head section, seat `section and foot section mounted on said side rails and between the same for movement within the contines of the side rails; and

FIGURE 5 is a plan view in detail and on a larger scale of the locking and release means for the side rails.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views, there is indicated generally at 10 a guard rail, one for each side of the hospital bed, comprising a tubular elongated U-shaped body having upper and lower portions 11 and 12 and closed with a semicircular end 14 connecting the sides at the foot end. A tubular elongated portion 16 having a slightly smaller diameter upper and lower longitudinally portions 11a and 12a respectively with a semicircular closed end 14a connecting the two, is mounted slidably within the tubular members 11 and 12. When the tubular portion 16 is in the fully extended position as 'shown in FIGURE l, the guard rail is in the position normally employed during the night hours. During the daytime, unless there is a special need, the guards are retracted to the position shown in FIGURE 3.

With reference to FIGURE 4 it will be observed that the bed frame includes side rails 36 which have a thickness as shown in FIGURE 2. When the side rails are made of metal -the thickness is represented by inwardly directed anges at the top and bottom of each, and the outer face in any event is substantially indicative of the maximum Width of the bed. FIGURE 4 also shows a mattress support comprising a plurality of sections pivotally movable with respect to each other and which as a unit are supported on the side rails 36 and between them on pivots 41 for movement within the confines between the two. The separate mattress support has a head section 3S, a middle or seat section 19 and a floot section 40. The mattress is indicated as 4t2. For a clearer understanding of the action of these sections, reference is made to Patent No. 3,149, 349 which issued September 22, 1964.

The lock 17 prevents the member 16 from being inadvertently returned to the retracted position shown in FIG- URE 3. The lock 17 is a blade member having a cam surface 1S at one end and pivotally mounted within the tube 12a by the pivot pin 20 at the other end. A slot 21 is provided in the bottom of tube 12a so that the blade will fall therethrough by gravity and provide a stop against the member 16 being pushed in inadvertently. It is Ireleased by pressing the blade 17 upward with a finger and pushing member 16 inwardly.

The guard rail is made into a rigid sturdy unit by identical spacer members secured between the upper and lower tubular portions 11 and 12; The spacer members are slightly wider than the diameter of. the tubing in order to give clearance for the pivotal movement with respect to the parallel vertical supports 22.

Each guard rail 10 is pivotally mounted on two identical supports 22 by pivot pins 23 which pass through the spacer members 15. The two support members 22 are in turn pivotally mounted on the movable middle or seat section 19 of the mattress support, by pivot pins 24 so the structure maintains a parallelogram attitude as it is pivotally raised and lowered in a vertical plane about the four pivot pins 23 and 24. The support members 22 are positioned on the inside of the guard rails 10 lso that they will swing within the space between the mattress support 19 and the inner face of the side rails 36. It will be observed that the guard rail structure 10 being pivotally mounted on and incorporating the middle or seat .section 19 of a movable mattress support as a part of the movable parallelograrn, always moves with it regardless of the attitude of the seat section 19 or the position of the guard rail.

rIio be certain of the vertical or operative position of the guard rail 10, a stop 25 is provided. The stop 25 consists 'of two spaced pieces secured tio the side member of the seat section 19. These spaced pieces project outwardly a sufiicient distance to prevent further counter-clockwise movement of the support 22 beyond the vertical, but not far enough to interfere with the free movement as it is moved from operative to inoperative position -or vice versa. Between the two spaced stop pieces 25' is a slot 26 through the side member of the seat section 19. A C- shaped lock 27 is provided to hold the side rail assembly in the vertical position shown in FIGURE 1. One end 28- of C-shaped lock 27 .reaches through the slot 26 provided therefore in the middle section 19 of a movable mattress support, is pivotally mounted in the space between the two stop members 25 by pivot p`m 30. The other arm 31 of lock 27 reaches through a suitable opening 32 provided therefor in the middle section of a movable mattress support 19. The arm 31 extends through the member 19 and projects outwardly approximately the same distance as the stop 25. The arm 31 has a turned down tab portion 33 which acts as a release button. The arm 31 is so spaced from the stop 25 that together they hold member 22 rmly and positively in an upright position therebetween. In order to make the locking assembly releasable and to provide clearance for pivotal movement of the guard rail 10, a spring 34 is attached to the middle section of `the movable mattress support 19 on the inner side thereof, with the other end attached to lock 27, offset as at 35. The spring is biased to maintain the lock in the operative position at all times and provides a tangential component of tension to securely maintain support 22 in the upright position until intentionally released and held open.

All of which is shown in detail in` FIGURE 5 where the locked position is shown in full lines and the momentary release position is shown in broken lines.

The guard rail can be easily unlocked and placed in the inoperative position shown in FIGURE 3, by depressing the face 33 yof arm 31 with a finger, or even a knee, and pivotally moving the guard rail 10 clockwise, whereby guard rail 10 is moved to the inoperative position so that tubular member 12 comes to rest upon bumpers 37 mounted on the top flanges of side rails 36 of the bed, all as shown in FIGURE 3 and lie iiush in substantially the same vertical plane. Since the upper tubular portion 11 of guard rail 10 is well below the top edge of the seat section 19, (as shown in FIGURE 3) it is therefore clear of the mattress which lrests thereon. It is to be further observed that even when the bed side guard rail 10 is in the down position, `it `follows the motion of the middle section of the mattress support and is ready for use regardless of the attitude of the middle section of the mattress support.

It will be observed that the objectives all are accomplished by the structure disclosed.

I claim:

1. Bed side guard rails, a bed having a pair of side rails with inwardly directed top flanges, said side rails defining substantially the maximum width of the bed, a separate mattress support of movable sections including a movable seat section, all of said sections being supported as a unit on said side rails and movable within the limits ofl said side rails, a pair ofside guard rails one at either side of the bed and each of said guard rails comprising a first tubular U-shaped member, a second tubular U-shaped portion of slightly smaller diameter slidably mounted within the legs of the first U-shaped member at the open. ends thereof, parallel spacer members secured between the legs of said first U-shaped member to form a rigid structure, spaced mounting supports the top end of each being pivotally mounted on the spacermembers of said guard and the lower other end of each being permanently and pivotally mounted on the movable mattress support, said mounting supports moving in a vertical'plane between said mattress support and said side rails so that the side guard rails do not extend beyond the width of the bed at any time and releasable locking means on said movable mattress support for retaining the bed side guard rails in the vertical operative position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the bed side guard rails are pivotally mounted at either side on the movable mattress support and are movable therewith regardless of the attitude of the mattress support or the position of the guard rail.

3. A combination of claim 1 wherein the bed side guard rail is pivotally mounted as a parallelogram with respect to the movable mattress support and moves therewith in a vertical plane regardless of attitude.

4. Bed side guard rails for a hospital bed or the like comprising a bed having a pair of side rails with inwardly directed top flanges, said side rails defining substantially the maximum width of the bed, a separate mattress support of movable sections including a movable seat or middle section, all of said sections being supported as a unit on said side rails and movable within the limits of said side rails, a pair of side guards positioned one at either side of said bed each comprising a first U-shaped tubular member with a second U-shaped tubular member of slightly smaller diameter slidably mounted within the legs of the first Ufshaped member at the open ends thereof for longitudinal adjustment, parallel vertical spacer members secured between the legs of said first U- shaped member `to form a rigid structure, a pair of mounting supports for each side guard the` upper end of each being pivotally mounted to said spacer members and the lower end of each permanently and pivotally mounted on the middle seat section of the movable mattress support, said mounting supports moving in a vertical plane between said mattress support and said side rails so that the guard rails do not extend beyond the Width of said bed at any time and releasable locking means for retaining said guard rail in the vertical operative position.

5. The bed side guard rail of claim 4 wherein it is pivotally mounted on the movable middle section of the mattress support, as a parallelogram for movement in a vertical plane.

6. The bed side guard of claim 4 pivotally mounted as a parallelogram on the movable middle section of a movable mattress support and movable therewith regardless of position at all attitudes.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 984,591 2/1911 Nelson 248-161 2,722,017 11/1955 Burst et al. 5--331 2,8 17,85 5 12/ 1957 Pratt 5-331 2,817,856 12/1957 Dewitt et al 5--331 3,097,370 7/ 1963 Murcott 5-331 3,125,769 3/1964 Black et al. 5-331 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. BED SIDE GUARD RAILS, A BED HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE RAILS WITH INWARDLY DIRECTED TOP FLANGES, SAID SIDE WALLS DEFINING SUBSTANTIALLY THE MAXIMUM WIDTH OF THE BED, A SEPARATE MATTRESS SUPPORT OF MOVABLE SECTIONS INCLUDING A MOVABLE SEAT SECTION, ALL OF SAID SECTIONS BEING SUPPORTED AS A UNIT ON SAID SIDE RAILS AND MOVABLE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF SAID SIDE RAILS, A PAIR OF SIDE GUARD RAILS ONE AT EITHER SIDE OF THE BED AND EACH OF SAID GUARD RAILS COMPRISING A FIRST TUBULAR U-SHAPED MEMBER A SECOND TUBULAR U-SHAPED PORTION OF SLIGHTLY SMALLER DIAMETER SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN THE LEGS OF THE FIRST U-SHAPED MEMBER AT THE OPEN ENDS THEREOF, PARALLEL SPACER MEMBERS SECURED BETWEEN THE LEGS OF SAID FIRST U-SHAPED MEMBER TO FORM A RIGID STRUCTURE, SPACED MOUNTING SUPPORTS THE TOP END OF EACH BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE SPACER MEMBERS OF SAID GUARD AND THE LOWER OTHER END OF EACH BEING PERMANENTLY AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE MOVABLE MATTRESS SUPPORT, SAID MOUNTING SUPPORTS MOVING IN A VERTICAL PLANE BETWEEN SAID MATTRESS SUPPORT AND SAID SIDE RAILS SO THAT THE SIDE GUARD RAILS DO NOT EXTEND BEYOND THE WIDTH OF THE BED AT ANY TIME AND RELEASABLE LOCKING MEANS ON SAID MOVABLE MATTRESS SUPPORT FOR RETAINING THE BED SIDE GUARD RAILS IN THE VERTICAL OPERATIVE POSITION. 